Ship&#39;s life-boat.



M. BOURKE.

SHIPS LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 7, 1912.

1,130,137,, Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w I Q1 THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PH07"0-LITH J., WASHING rON n M. BOURKE.

SHIPS LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1912 Patented Mar. 2, 1915 ama? 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 THE NORRIS PETERS co.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c.

srn'rns PA mar FFEC.

MARTIN BOURKE, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE BAKER ANDONE-I-IALF '10 JOHN A. LOGAN, BOTH OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

SHIPS LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed December 7, 1912. Serial No. 735,562.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN BOURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahonlng and State of Ohio, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Ships Life-Boats, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The-object of my invention is to provide a ships life boat which will possess the imtially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of a lifeboat embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view with a portion of the cover broken away; Fig. 3 is a transverse section, the bunk or bed-forming device being shown arranged for use in dotted lines. Fig. f is a longltue dinal section of a portion of the boat showing the releasing mechanism; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views in section of the locklng members of the releasing mechanism.

The hull 10 of my boat may be constructed of any desirable material, but I preferably construct it of sheet metal and form it of two shells or skins 11, thus making the hull hollowed or chambered, and at suitable intervals apart lengthwise of the boat there are transverse walls, or partitions 12 which divide the chamber into numerous small compartments 13 extending transversely of the boat, so that if the outer skin or shell of any one compartment should be broken, the entrance of water thereinto would be con fined to asmall limited area, and thus the safety of the boat not really endangered. The keel 14 which intersects the series of compartments establishes communication with the sides thereof on opposite sides of the keel, so that Water entering through a hole or break in the outer skin at one side of the boat will pass freely into the compartment at the opposite side and thus the balance or trim of the boat maintained notwithstanding the presence of the water in the hull.

I utilize a part of the spaces in each of the small compartments 13 to provide therein a water-holding tank 16 for drinking water so that there will be thus provided a series of such tanks on each side of the boat. Adjacent tanks of each series are connected by a pipe 17, and at preferably mid-ship, although it may be at any other point, I provide a draw-off pipe 18 which opens into the boat and provides means whereby water from the entire series of tanks on one side of the boat may be'withdrawn. It will thus be seen that a very ample supply of drinking water may be provided, and as it is in the lower part of the hull, it aids in placing the center of gravity low, so that the self-righting power of the craft is thereby contributed to.

Running along each side of the hull on the interior of the boat, is a bench 19 having a horizontal seat-forming member and a vertical supporting member, and thereby a provision-receiving chamber 20 running practically the length of the boat is provided on each side thereof in which are placed removable cans 21, access to which is obtained by providing the seat portion of the bench with a hole or opening having a hinge cover 22. At suitable intervals each bench is provided with arms 23 so that the passengers may be comfortably and securely seated. Each hinge cover 22 has hinged to it a plate 24 long enough to reach a little more than half way across from one bench to the other, and one of'said plates has legs 25 so that when the plate is swung over from the horizontal position from the seat portion of the bench to a horizontal position toward the opposite bench, the legs will rest upon the bottom of the plate having the legs. It will thus be seen that a bunk or bed extending transversely of the boat may be provided forthe passenger to lie upon, and thus a series of such beds or bunks may be provided length wise of the boat.

The boat has a cover 27 which may be permanently riveted or bolted thereto or detachably connected, and the cover is shaped so that it inclinesfrom the center downward and outward and upon each of its inclined sides there are several hatches, each'having a hinged cover 28. These hatches provide the means for ingress and egress of the passengers, and the hinges of the hatch covers are adjacent the ridge portion of the boat cover so that hatch covers on opposite sides may be swung to a vertical position and there secured when it is desired to uncover the hatches.

To provide for ventilation, I provide in the underside of the cover, both forward and aft, a longitudinally extending chamber 29, whichat one end has two pipes 30 branching therefrom and extending downward and forward in the case of the forward chamber and simply downward in the case of the aft chamber, and in the latter case there are bell mouths 31 provided for the pipes and at the opposite ends of each of said chambers is a 7 vertical pipe or flue 32 which leads through the top of the cover and thus communication is established with the outside air, It will be evident that with the provision thus made ample ventilation, even when the hatches are closed, is provided.

Running fore and aft at the ridge of the cover on the outside, is a hand rod 33 and extending along the lower edge of the cover is a foot-engaging rod 34.

To enable the boat to be sailed, it is provided-with a mast for which a socket 35 is mounted on the top of the cover and forward and close to the bow. The cover has two alining eyes 36 to receive a jib so that ample provision is thus made for navigating the boat which might be especially desirable to avoid reefs or rocky shores. The mast, of course, can be made in several sections for its convenient storage when not in use. When it is desired to propel the boat, and there is no wind, this can be done by means of a propeller 37 on a shaft 38 having at its end within the boat a pinion 39 with which meshes the teeth of an internal gear wheel 40 on a shaft having a crank 41 and to oppo- V site sides of the boat a line or rope 42 runs from the crank through a pulley block43 so that by the passengers on the opposite sides of the boat alternately pulling in opposite directions and having a person to turn the crank over the dead center, great power may be applied to revolve the propeller.

For steering, a rudder 44 is provided having a line running to midship where the steersman is located, and at mid-ship a cockpit or box 45 is providede' wliwront and back walls extend above the top' of the boat sufliciently high to enable lights 46 to be provided so that the steerman can see outside of the vessel. 7 7

It is of the utmost importance that in releasing a lifeboat from the davits, it will be released at both ends simultaneously, other falls, so that when the lever'is rocked they, 1

will be withdrawn from the eyes simulta bow and'at the stern, the boat is provided with rings 49 which may be used for connecting'the' falls or hoistingmechanism'so as to permit hoisting s0 thatlthereby the boat may be'lifted on shipboard.

In the cover, as well as in the sides of-the hull just below the cover, Iprovide numer-. ous dead lights 50.

It will be seen that by my invention I proneouslyand the boat thus simultaneously re- ,7 leased at both'ends anddropped. At the vide a ships lifeboat that possesses all the essentials, including properprotection from the elements and provision of food, non: liability to foundering, and means for navigating it, which are necessary in such a craft. 7 y v v V Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A ships lifeboat having a hull formed of a longitudinal series of independent com partments separated by transverse partitions, and tanks or receptacles in said compartments partially filling the same, said tanks being connected together by pipes in a series and closed to the compartments which they occupy, and an outlet pipe therefrom to v the interior of the boat being provided and a keel perforated to establish communication between opposite sides of the same compartment.

2. A ships lifeboat havinga hull formed l of a series of independent compartmentsfla bench extending lengthwise of the hull on each s1de thereof, and plates movably con-f nected to the bench and. adapted to. extend from one bench toward the other, and having means for their support in a horizontal position, comprising a legattached to onev of said plates, the plate without the leg overlapping and resting upon the top of the plate with the leg.

' 3. A ships lifeboat having a hull, a cover for the hull, and ventilating passages in the In testimony whereof I afix my signature underside of the cover leading to the outside in presence of two Witnesses.

of the boat formed each of a longitudinally extending chamber, each of said passages be- MARTIN BOURKE ing branched Within the boat at one end, Witnesses:

and having an extension to the outside of CHAS. J. WILLIAMSON,

the boat at its other end. E. H. MOLACHLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

